1. What is BMI?

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a simple index of weight-for-height that is commonly used to classify underweight, normal weight, overweight and obesity in children and teens. It provides a reliable indicator of body fatness for most people.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the standard BMI formula:

Where:

• \( weight \) — Body weight in kilograms
• \( height \) — Height in meters

Explanation: BMI is calculated by dividing weight in kilograms by the square of height in meters.

3. Importance of BMI Calculation

Details: BMI is an important screening tool to identify potential weight problems in children and teens. It helps healthcare providers determine if a child is underweight, at a healthy weight, overweight, or obese.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter weight in kilograms and height in meters. For accurate results, measurements should be taken with minimal clothing and no shoes. All values must be valid (weight > 0, height > 0).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: How is BMI interpreted for children?
A: For children and teens, BMI is age- and sex-specific and is often referred to as BMI-for-age. Percentiles are used to interpret BMI measurements.

Q2: What are the BMI categories for children?
A: Underweight (<5th percentile), Healthy weight (5th to <85th percentile), Overweight (85th to <95th percentile), Obese (≥95th percentile).

Q3: When should BMI be measured?
A: BMI should be calculated and plotted at least once a year during routine health visits for children and teens.

Q4: Are there limitations to BMI?
A: BMI doesn't directly measure body fat and can be misleading in muscular children or those with different body compositions.

Q5: Should BMI be the only measure of healthy weight?
A: No, other factors like growth patterns, family history, and overall health should be considered along with BMI.